With rifles popping off in no particular rhythm from a line of a dozen or more shooters, Hayden Bell of Cranberry concentrates on his breath, his points of contact and getting the bullet in the chamber of his air rifle into a half millimeter bullseye 30 feet away. He is the only one on the planet in that moment. He is calm and disciplined.
His trigger finger is so smooth it barely appears to move when his rifle fires.
"The best shooters are the ones who can block out the 'extras' and focus on the target," said Bell's teammate Zach Byers.
Bell and Byers are members of the Oil City Junior Rifle Team. They train at the Isaak Walton League on Deep Hollow Road. There they work with coaches and more importantly, hone their abilities.
His trigger finger is so smooth it barely appears to move when his rifle fires.
"The best shooters are the ones who can block out the 'extras' and focus on the target," said Bell's teammate Zach Byers.
Bell and Byers are members of the Oil City Junior Rifle Team. They train at the Isaak Walton League on Deep Hollow Road. There they work with coaches and more importantly, hone their abilities.
The top rifle team members spend around 500 hours a year in practice, firing between 15,000 to 20,000 rounds. To compete at various events, they are known to travel 2,000 to 3,000 miles in a year. "Kids learn life skills. They learn focus and discipline," said JR Byers, Zach's dad and frequent chauffeur.
The rifle program is feeling the effects of COVID with lower numbers participating. So on Fridays, they offer a youth shooting program to pique local interest at a low cost, Byers said. Those interested have to pay $5 for their first visit and only $1 after that.
The club has all the necessary equipment for them to use during these visits. "It's the best kept secret in Pennsylvania," team coach Steve Knight said about the junior rifle program.
The rifle program is feeling the effects of COVID with lower numbers participating. So on Fridays, they offer a youth shooting program to pique local interest at a low cost, Byers said. Those interested have to pay $5 for their first visit and only $1 after that.
The club has all the necessary equipment for them to use during these visits. "It's the best kept secret in Pennsylvania," team coach Steve Knight said about the junior rifle program.
"[The Friday session] is designed to introduce kids into the world of competitive smallbore rifle shooting. The kids shoot in our indoor range using .22 target rifles, and learn the basics of competitive shooting from our NRA certified instructors, all while having a blast," their website explains. The sessions begin at 6 p.m. but they ask everyone to arrive by 5:30 p.m. in order to get geared up and get instruction.
The program is funded through grants and fundraising. Many former participants have earned college scholarships and shoot in high level competitions all over the world.
The Oil City competition squad does quite well. Competitors are scored individually and also contribute to the team's overall result. Over the weekend, the squad competed with several members shooting well with two members, Hayden and Jack Ogoreuc scoring in the top 25 of 162 competitors, according JR Byers.
They've taken aim at advancing to the national competition in Camp Perry, Ohio in July. The team is currently in 15th place in the national standings.
To make it to national, they must be in the top 20. That will not be officially determined until after the results of a competition held on the West Coast.
The Oil City competition squad does quite well. Competitors are scored individually and also contribute to the team's overall result. Over the weekend, the squad competed with several members shooting well with two members, Hayden and Jack Ogoreuc scoring in the top 25 of 162 competitors, according JR Byers.
They've taken aim at advancing to the national competition in Camp Perry, Ohio in July. The team is currently in 15th place in the national standings.
To make it to national, they must be in the top 20. That will not be officially determined until after the results of a competition held on the West Coast.
JR Byers said one of the great things about the program is the top kids help the beginners, creating a family-like atmosphere. This includes getting hand-me-downs. As the kids grow in the program and out of their gear, many donate it back to the program so the next youngster has the equipment they need. "The point is to get kids into the program," he said. The Friday sessions really give kids and the parents a lox-cost way to see if they really like target shooting.
As the kids advance and get more serious, the more they see the benefits of the program and the more they invest in their own gear. "It's an investment for a lifetime," said Bob Ogoreuc, whose son Jack is one of the top shooters on the team. He compared it to youth hockey, which his son also played, where the likelihood of using the same equipment for many years is slim. "That rifle, he could have his whole life"
As the kids advance and get more serious, the more they see the benefits of the program and the more they invest in their own gear. "It's an investment for a lifetime," said Bob Ogoreuc, whose son Jack is one of the top shooters on the team. He compared it to youth hockey, which his son also played, where the likelihood of using the same equipment for many years is slim. "That rifle, he could have his whole life"
Youth interested in trying out the program should contact the league by either showing up on Friday or contacting them through their Facebook page or calling the Izaak Walton at 814-676-6130 or email them at [email protected]
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